Worktrip to Bucharest, Romania!
It's been a busy month; after the two week renovation of my toilet and shower, I went on another international worktrip. I flew to Bucharest, Romania for a one week conference (where I presented three proposals and three briefs!). Beforehand I had one day to explore the old town and in the middle of the week we got a tour of the Parliamental Palace where we had our meeting. Other than those sight-seeing photos, there is a lot of food in this picspam, enjoy! ;-)
Day 1: Travel and a jacuzzi
First view of Romania, welcome to Bucharest!
I took the airport bus to the centre of town and caught the citybus that stopped right in front of my hotel :-)
My room was huge and it had a jacuzzi!
I had a nice view of the Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului ("People's Salvation Cathedral"), the national cathedral of Romania, that is still under construction (construction started in 2010) and the Palatul Parlamentului, the Parliamental Palace, the enormous boxlike building on the left.
For dinner I sat down in the hotel's restaurant, where the menu stated for nearly every dish "contains defrosted products". Ah well, at least they were upfront about it. I ordered Gujoane de Pui cu Cartofi Pai si Sos Maioneza/Usturoi (Crispy Chicken Fingers with French Fries and Mayo/Garlic Sauce;-)
Dessert from day 1: Clatite cu Ciocolata (chocolate filled (cold) pancakes)
and breakfast from day 2: the juice turned out to be lemonade, I was glad I had some fruit as well: peaches and melon, nom!
Day 2: Strolling through Old Town Bucharest
First I walked to the Parliamental Palace; to figure out how long it would take and what time I would need to get up for work the next day;)
Then I got on the subway; changed trains at Piața Unirii (Unity Square) to get to the starting point of my stroll through Old Town.
My first stop was the National Theatre with delightful sculptures in Parcul TNB in front of it: Caruta cu Paiate ("Harlequin Cart") features characters from Romania's best known playwright, Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912), there's a statue of him as well and he's on the 100 lei banknote). Artist: Ioan Bolborea.
Crossed the roundabout through the underground Pasaj Universitate. In the middle of the square is the Ion Constantin Brătianu Monument (original designed by architect Petre Antonescu and made by the French sculptor Ernest Henri Dubois from 1903 was demolished by communist regime in 1948, a duplicate by sculptor Ionel Soicescu was reinstated here in 2019)
From there I walked to the very well hidden Biserica "Sfântul Nicolae" (Saint Nicholas Church, 1905). Didn't go inside this Russian Orthodox church as there was a service going on (I could hear a male choir from the outside, it sounded beautiful), I did walk all the way around to look at the gorgeous onion domes and decorations.
Yay, found a manhole cover with the city's coat of arms (There's another version on my Instagram).
This is the corner of the Banca Nationala a Romaniei; have you ever seen such a glorious bank?
Walking through Strada Lipscani, looking up at all the amazing buildings and the artwork above!
Corner of Strada Stravopoleos: the National Museum of Romanian History.
I sat down for a little lunch at the Gilda Music Lounge: Strawberry Paradise (strawberry puree, lime, lemon, orange, sparkling water) and Tea with French Toast cu crema de brânză (cream cheese:).
The impressive round façade of the Muzeul Art Safari, at the corner of Strada Smârdan.
From there I walked to the most beautiful little church I've ever seen, inside and out: the Biserica Mănăstirii "Stavropoleos" (Church of the "Stavropoleos" Monastery, 1724)
The ceiling on the outside of the door is already colourful and then, when you walk in, there's the inside of the dome to blow you away.
So, so beautiful.
At the back of the church is the small courtyard from the monastery.
Right after I walked out of the "Stavropoleos" church, the tiny nun who was keeping watch closed the door; I felt so lucky I had been on time to see the inside. Although that detail on the wooden door alone would have already been worth the visit. *stares and stares*
Nothing quite compares to that experience, but I also loved this Art Nouveau window of the Banca Creditul Român (1911, Architects Maugsch, Bavral and Gotthilf)
Another highlight of my visit: the ruins/reconstuction of the
Palatul Voievodal "Curtea Veche" ("The Old Court" Voivodal Palace), from the reign of Vlad III Dracula (a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler 1428/31-1476/77), now a museum.
Next to it the oldest Romanian Orthodox church: Biserica "Sfântul Anton" ("Saint Anthony" Church, ~1559, restaured after Great Fire of Bucharest in 1847)
Inside view of the Sfântul Anton dome.
Funky streetlights framing Biserica Sf. Maria a Harurilor (Catholic "Bărăția" Church) across the E81 motorway that runs right through the city.
To be safe from the announced thunderstorm, I settled with a book in McDonalds, where later my co-workers from NLD, GBR and DEU joined me for dinner before walking -through the rain- to a bar in Strada Lipscani where we had drinks with a whole bunch of other delegates to get to know each other (or meet up with familiar faces) at the traditional 'ice breaker' before the conference week.
Day 3: Climbing to the Conference
A sturdy breakfast because I had to walk to the Parliamental Palace, which included a climb up the hill from the gate.
I often still can't believe the job I have! Look at this impressive building I get to work in this week!
Can't show you the meeting room, but here's the lushious 3 course lunch: beef and vegetable soup with steak, fries and a bowl of pickled veggies. (I usually didn't eat the bowl of vegetables, so I didn't always keep track of what was served, but it was different each day;)
For dessert: a rich chocolate cake (which I suspected to have a little rum in it...)
My happy face after the first succesful day of the conference.
After my disastrous dinner in my own hotel the night before, Australian delegate D. had invited me over for dinner in his hotel, which was next door to mine and where a couple of other delegates stayed as well. We ended up with a group of seven, representing NLD (me!), GBR, DEU and AUS.
My drink of choice was a Green Apple mocktail; I ordered it several times more this week, but this first experience was the best. (Apple juice, lime, blue Curaçao, brown sugar and cinnamon)
Delicious main dish too: Piept de curcan, sos de merișoara, plure de morcov și păstârnac (Turkey breast, cranberry sauce, mashed carrot and parsnip)
Dessert: cremă de zahăr ars (creme brulee)
Day 4: A traditional Romanian soup
Breakfast with (cold) pancakes and my "exciting" daily walk to the Parliament Palace.
For lunch we had the number 1 traditional soup from Romania, it was very yellow and it had some distinctive structures in it, which I first thought were little tentacles, but it was actually the lining of a cow's stomach. This Ciorba de Burta, (or Belly Soup) was not my taste at all, but I appreciate I got to try it ;-)
The maindish was to my liking though: fried fish with mashed potatoes, mmmm.
For dessert: pancakes with chocolate, freshly baked unlike the ones that are served in my hotel :-p
View from the Parliamental Palace, after another succesful conference day. I's around 6:30 p.m. because we had a special discussion session after the official program.
Nice sunset behind the cathedral, while I walk with A. (GBR) and D. (AUS). around the other side of the palace to visit a supermarket on the way to our hotels.
After dinner at the neighbours (Chicken breasts and fried potatoes with a Green Apple mocktail that didn't look anything like yesterday's!) I sorted my groceries: an emergency snack stash and actual orange juice (that I brought down for breakfast)
Day 5: A Tour through the Parliament Palace
Breakfast (oooh potato croquets) and Lunchsoup: creamy with vegetables.
Main was Beefstew with Polenta and for dessert we got Red Velvet Cake!
Today we ended the conference a little earlier for a tour through the Parliament Palace, an huge building with 1000 rooms! We had time to see a selection of them.
The impressive hallway with one of the many chandeliers and marble floors; I entered here for two days already, but hadn't realized that intricate figure was actually a map of the building, how cool!
This is the 'widest' room (every room was something-est).
See the little holes in the ceiling? Those are for airflow, but also to increase sound; for instance when people applaud it will make loads of noise, even if there's only a small crowd.
The biggest ballroom, look at those massive curtains! Another intricate ceiling.
These huge wooden doors can actually slide into the walls!
An hallway with lots of busts and wall tapestry (another area we walk down every day on our way to lunch.)
The building also houses a full theatre! That chandelier is the size of a room by the way.
After the tour we had some time to take our workstuff to our hotels, before getting together at the front of the Parliament Palace again where a bus was waiting at the top of the hill (climbing again, pff) to take us to restaurant Pescarus in the North of town for a hosted dinner. (One of those with speeches all around)
Amazing started plate: a charcuterie board with all sorts of meat and cheese bites, olives, salmon, chicken and veggies.
Main dish: Mușchiuleț de porc gătit servit cu cartofi fondanți și sos de ciuperci (Pork Loin with mushroom sauce and fried potatoes.
Desert from Day 5: Tort Sankt Petersburg: Tort cu ciocolată și vișine după o rețetă imperială (Chocolate cake with sour cherries (and possibly some rum;))
Breakfast on Day 6: This morning I used my 'emergency snack stash' to eat in my room (got to sleep in an extra ten minutes)
Day 6: Ate my lunch vegetables!
Some snacks are provided in the breaks: Romanian pastry and chocolate cake. (During the week delegates from Japan and Norway brought national treats as well! I love this group so much)
Mushroom soup for lunch today.
Oooh, a bowl of vegetables I like: red cabbage to go with the Cordon Bleu and mashed potatoes. Dessert was the Romanian version of the cake I always make for my birthday (because you don't bake it, but make it in the fridge;). The Dutch call it Arretjescake, and it's basically lard with biscuits and cacao, I put raisins in it as well. In Romania they put sour cherries (soaked in rum?) in it. Mmmm, chocolaty.
In the evening another dinner at the neighbouring hotel.
When I ordered the tagliatelle dish, the waitress said that would take too long, but they could make it with spaghetti instead...
They also didn't have much choice in desserts anymore, so I had another creme brulee.
Day 7: Final evening at the Fountains
Breakfast with my last bit of orange juice.
Lovely curry soup with croutons for lunch.
Salmon and warm vegetables. I do eat the red beets in the cold veggie bowl-)
Final lunch dessert is puff pastry filled with chocolate mousse and whipped cream and slathered in chocolate, omnomnom.
Early in the evening I get on a bus with A. (GBR) for some dinner in town: I have fried camembert with cranberry sauce and also snack on A's fries and fried chicken.
After that we walk towards the city park to find the fountains, where we are meeting up with a whole group of people from our hotels. On the way we run into another group of delegates who are supposed to meet up with yet another group, that has already joined our group. In the end we all end up on the roundabout in the middle of the fountains :-D
Fântânile București - Fountains on Piața Unirii (Unity Square), Bucharest
I also made two videos: North side of Bulevardul Unirii; view from Parcul Unirii and 360 view from South side of Bulevardul Unirii roundabout
The promised musicshow wasn't there tonight, but just the light effects on all the fountains surrounding us is already pretty cool.
Also cool: the tiles in the toilet of the restaurant a small group of us chose for our last dinner together. (The men's room was apparently even more colourful, A. showed me photos;)
Since I already had an early dinner I chose a small potato dish with my mocktail, it had a bit of parmezan cheese and lots of garlic.
Dessert was a great finale of our week: lava cake with chocolate icecream, presentet on a slice of orange and decorated with a cone *loves*
Day 8: Flying home
Last hotel breakfast and I'm all packed, bye big room!
Took the citybus into the centre (waved goodby from the busstop to G. & A. who were just having breakfast in their hotel), caught the bus to the airport, where I met up with my Dutch colleagues (respectively the chair and secretary of this meeting and my fellow delegate) for our flight to Amsterdam.
Cup of tea on the plane, food on the train (I had saved the cheese sandwich from the plane). I was home around 19:00 (Seven p.m.)
The End.
J.
X-posted from https://beelikej.dreamwidth.org/585091.html [
comments] Lurk or comment wherever you like:)
Day 1: Travel and a jacuzzi
First view of Romania, welcome to Bucharest!
I took the airport bus to the centre of town and caught the citybus that stopped right in front of my hotel :-)
My room was huge and it had a jacuzzi!
I had a nice view of the Catedrala Mantuirii Neamului ("People's Salvation Cathedral"), the national cathedral of Romania, that is still under construction (construction started in 2010) and the Palatul Parlamentului, the Parliamental Palace, the enormous boxlike building on the left.
For dinner I sat down in the hotel's restaurant, where the menu stated for nearly every dish "contains defrosted products". Ah well, at least they were upfront about it. I ordered Gujoane de Pui cu Cartofi Pai si Sos Maioneza/Usturoi (Crispy Chicken Fingers with French Fries and Mayo/Garlic Sauce;-)
Dessert from day 1: Clatite cu Ciocolata (chocolate filled (cold) pancakes)
and breakfast from day 2: the juice turned out to be lemonade, I was glad I had some fruit as well: peaches and melon, nom!
Day 2: Strolling through Old Town Bucharest
First I walked to the Parliamental Palace; to figure out how long it would take and what time I would need to get up for work the next day;)
Then I got on the subway; changed trains at Piața Unirii (Unity Square) to get to the starting point of my stroll through Old Town.
My first stop was the National Theatre with delightful sculptures in Parcul TNB in front of it: Caruta cu Paiate ("Harlequin Cart") features characters from Romania's best known playwright, Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912), there's a statue of him as well and he's on the 100 lei banknote). Artist: Ioan Bolborea.
Crossed the roundabout through the underground Pasaj Universitate. In the middle of the square is the Ion Constantin Brătianu Monument (original designed by architect Petre Antonescu and made by the French sculptor Ernest Henri Dubois from 1903 was demolished by communist regime in 1948, a duplicate by sculptor Ionel Soicescu was reinstated here in 2019)
From there I walked to the very well hidden Biserica "Sfântul Nicolae" (Saint Nicholas Church, 1905). Didn't go inside this Russian Orthodox church as there was a service going on (I could hear a male choir from the outside, it sounded beautiful), I did walk all the way around to look at the gorgeous onion domes and decorations.
Yay, found a manhole cover with the city's coat of arms (There's another version on my Instagram).
This is the corner of the Banca Nationala a Romaniei; have you ever seen such a glorious bank?
Walking through Strada Lipscani, looking up at all the amazing buildings and the artwork above!
Corner of Strada Stravopoleos: the National Museum of Romanian History.
I sat down for a little lunch at the Gilda Music Lounge: Strawberry Paradise (strawberry puree, lime, lemon, orange, sparkling water) and Tea with French Toast cu crema de brânză (cream cheese:).
The impressive round façade of the Muzeul Art Safari, at the corner of Strada Smârdan.
From there I walked to the most beautiful little church I've ever seen, inside and out: the Biserica Mănăstirii "Stavropoleos" (Church of the "Stavropoleos" Monastery, 1724)
The ceiling on the outside of the door is already colourful and then, when you walk in, there's the inside of the dome to blow you away.
So, so beautiful.
At the back of the church is the small courtyard from the monastery.
Right after I walked out of the "Stavropoleos" church, the tiny nun who was keeping watch closed the door; I felt so lucky I had been on time to see the inside. Although that detail on the wooden door alone would have already been worth the visit. *stares and stares*
Nothing quite compares to that experience, but I also loved this Art Nouveau window of the Banca Creditul Român (1911, Architects Maugsch, Bavral and Gotthilf)
Another highlight of my visit: the ruins/reconstuction of the
Palatul Voievodal "Curtea Veche" ("The Old Court" Voivodal Palace), from the reign of Vlad III Dracula (a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler 1428/31-1476/77), now a museum.
Next to it the oldest Romanian Orthodox church: Biserica "Sfântul Anton" ("Saint Anthony" Church, ~1559, restaured after Great Fire of Bucharest in 1847)
Inside view of the Sfântul Anton dome.
Funky streetlights framing Biserica Sf. Maria a Harurilor (Catholic "Bărăția" Church) across the E81 motorway that runs right through the city.
To be safe from the announced thunderstorm, I settled with a book in McDonalds, where later my co-workers from NLD, GBR and DEU joined me for dinner before walking -through the rain- to a bar in Strada Lipscani where we had drinks with a whole bunch of other delegates to get to know each other (or meet up with familiar faces) at the traditional 'ice breaker' before the conference week.
Day 3: Climbing to the Conference
A sturdy breakfast because I had to walk to the Parliamental Palace, which included a climb up the hill from the gate.
I often still can't believe the job I have! Look at this impressive building I get to work in this week!
Can't show you the meeting room, but here's the lushious 3 course lunch: beef and vegetable soup with steak, fries and a bowl of pickled veggies. (I usually didn't eat the bowl of vegetables, so I didn't always keep track of what was served, but it was different each day;)
For dessert: a rich chocolate cake (which I suspected to have a little rum in it...)
My happy face after the first succesful day of the conference.
After my disastrous dinner in my own hotel the night before, Australian delegate D. had invited me over for dinner in his hotel, which was next door to mine and where a couple of other delegates stayed as well. We ended up with a group of seven, representing NLD (me!), GBR, DEU and AUS.
My drink of choice was a Green Apple mocktail; I ordered it several times more this week, but this first experience was the best. (Apple juice, lime, blue Curaçao, brown sugar and cinnamon)
Delicious main dish too: Piept de curcan, sos de merișoara, plure de morcov și păstârnac (Turkey breast, cranberry sauce, mashed carrot and parsnip)
Dessert: cremă de zahăr ars (creme brulee)
Day 4: A traditional Romanian soup
Breakfast with (cold) pancakes and my "exciting" daily walk to the Parliament Palace.
For lunch we had the number 1 traditional soup from Romania, it was very yellow and it had some distinctive structures in it, which I first thought were little tentacles, but it was actually the lining of a cow's stomach. This Ciorba de Burta, (or Belly Soup) was not my taste at all, but I appreciate I got to try it ;-)
The maindish was to my liking though: fried fish with mashed potatoes, mmmm.
For dessert: pancakes with chocolate, freshly baked unlike the ones that are served in my hotel :-p
View from the Parliamental Palace, after another succesful conference day. I's around 6:30 p.m. because we had a special discussion session after the official program.
Nice sunset behind the cathedral, while I walk with A. (GBR) and D. (AUS). around the other side of the palace to visit a supermarket on the way to our hotels.
After dinner at the neighbours (Chicken breasts and fried potatoes with a Green Apple mocktail that didn't look anything like yesterday's!) I sorted my groceries: an emergency snack stash and actual orange juice (that I brought down for breakfast)
Day 5: A Tour through the Parliament Palace
Breakfast (oooh potato croquets) and Lunchsoup: creamy with vegetables.
Main was Beefstew with Polenta and for dessert we got Red Velvet Cake!
Today we ended the conference a little earlier for a tour through the Parliament Palace, an huge building with 1000 rooms! We had time to see a selection of them.
The impressive hallway with one of the many chandeliers and marble floors; I entered here for two days already, but hadn't realized that intricate figure was actually a map of the building, how cool!
This is the 'widest' room (every room was something-est).
See the little holes in the ceiling? Those are for airflow, but also to increase sound; for instance when people applaud it will make loads of noise, even if there's only a small crowd.
The biggest ballroom, look at those massive curtains! Another intricate ceiling.
These huge wooden doors can actually slide into the walls!
An hallway with lots of busts and wall tapestry (another area we walk down every day on our way to lunch.)
The building also houses a full theatre! That chandelier is the size of a room by the way.
After the tour we had some time to take our workstuff to our hotels, before getting together at the front of the Parliament Palace again where a bus was waiting at the top of the hill (climbing again, pff) to take us to restaurant Pescarus in the North of town for a hosted dinner. (One of those with speeches all around)
Amazing started plate: a charcuterie board with all sorts of meat and cheese bites, olives, salmon, chicken and veggies.
Main dish: Mușchiuleț de porc gătit servit cu cartofi fondanți și sos de ciuperci (Pork Loin with mushroom sauce and fried potatoes.
Desert from Day 5: Tort Sankt Petersburg: Tort cu ciocolată și vișine după o rețetă imperială (Chocolate cake with sour cherries (and possibly some rum;))
Breakfast on Day 6: This morning I used my 'emergency snack stash' to eat in my room (got to sleep in an extra ten minutes)
Day 6: Ate my lunch vegetables!
Some snacks are provided in the breaks: Romanian pastry and chocolate cake. (During the week delegates from Japan and Norway brought national treats as well! I love this group so much)
Mushroom soup for lunch today.
Oooh, a bowl of vegetables I like: red cabbage to go with the Cordon Bleu and mashed potatoes. Dessert was the Romanian version of the cake I always make for my birthday (because you don't bake it, but make it in the fridge;). The Dutch call it Arretjescake, and it's basically lard with biscuits and cacao, I put raisins in it as well. In Romania they put sour cherries (soaked in rum?) in it. Mmmm, chocolaty.
In the evening another dinner at the neighbouring hotel.
When I ordered the tagliatelle dish, the waitress said that would take too long, but they could make it with spaghetti instead...
They also didn't have much choice in desserts anymore, so I had another creme brulee.
Day 7: Final evening at the Fountains
Breakfast with my last bit of orange juice.
Lovely curry soup with croutons for lunch.
Salmon and warm vegetables. I do eat the red beets in the cold veggie bowl-)
Final lunch dessert is puff pastry filled with chocolate mousse and whipped cream and slathered in chocolate, omnomnom.
Early in the evening I get on a bus with A. (GBR) for some dinner in town: I have fried camembert with cranberry sauce and also snack on A's fries and fried chicken.
After that we walk towards the city park to find the fountains, where we are meeting up with a whole group of people from our hotels. On the way we run into another group of delegates who are supposed to meet up with yet another group, that has already joined our group. In the end we all end up on the roundabout in the middle of the fountains :-D
Fântânile București - Fountains on Piața Unirii (Unity Square), Bucharest
I also made two videos: North side of Bulevardul Unirii; view from Parcul Unirii and 360 view from South side of Bulevardul Unirii roundabout
The promised musicshow wasn't there tonight, but just the light effects on all the fountains surrounding us is already pretty cool.
Also cool: the tiles in the toilet of the restaurant a small group of us chose for our last dinner together. (The men's room was apparently even more colourful, A. showed me photos;)
Since I already had an early dinner I chose a small potato dish with my mocktail, it had a bit of parmezan cheese and lots of garlic.
Dessert was a great finale of our week: lava cake with chocolate icecream, presentet on a slice of orange and decorated with a cone *loves*
Day 8: Flying home
Last hotel breakfast and I'm all packed, bye big room!
Took the citybus into the centre (waved goodby from the busstop to G. & A. who were just having breakfast in their hotel), caught the bus to the airport, where I met up with my Dutch colleagues (respectively the chair and secretary of this meeting and my fellow delegate) for our flight to Amsterdam.
Cup of tea on the plane, food on the train (I had saved the cheese sandwich from the plane). I was home around 19:00 (Seven p.m.)
The End.
J.
X-posted from https://beelikej.dreamwidth.org/585091.html [
comments] Lurk or comment wherever you like:)